The Neuro Patterns Prior to Error Responses in Long-Lasting Working Memory Task: An Event-Related Potential Study

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Electrophysiology

Background:

• Cognitive impairment mechanisms leading to errors in long tasks are understudied.
• Electrophysiological changes during mental fatigue require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To clarify electrophysiological changes in cognition preceding errors during mental fatigue.
• To investigate the impact of a sustained cognitive task on event-related potentials (ERPs).

Main Methods:

• Twenty-nine participants performed a 100-minute 2-back working memory task.
• Electroencephalography (EEG) recorded ERPs during initial (normal) and final (fatigue) task periods.
• Analysis focused on N1, P2, N2, and P3 component amplitudes and latencies in error and correct trials.

Main Results:

• Fatigue state showed reduced P3 and P2 amplitudes and prolonged P2 and N2 latency.
• Error trials exhibited smaller P3 and P2 amplitudes and larger N2 amplitudes.
• Sustained cognitive task engagement negatively affected attention, memory updating, and cognitive control.

Conclusions:

• Impaired attention, memory updating, and cognitive control are linked to task errors.
• Altered ERPs reflect neural patterns associated with errors during mental fatigue.
• Electrophysiological analysis provides insights into cognitive mechanisms underlying errors in fatigue.